JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A community effort to save and renovate a San Marco firehouse became a reality on Thursday when firefighters at Station 13 showed off some of their handy work.

There are probably a lot of things in San Marco Square that people take for granted, including the old fire station. However, the old building has suddenly been made new, and in fixing it up it saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

Firefighters and construction crews have been busy finishing up a remodeling job of the old firehouse. Built in 1941, the city had planned to tear down the station and build a new one, but the budget crunch stopped that.

"So maybe if there is one good thing to come from the tax crunch it's that we're able to save a little history here," said Chief Larry Peterson.

Peterson said the community came together and raised money to help refurbish the firehouse.

The floors were being refinished, the kitchen remodeled, new windows and new paint were all part of making the firehouse more efficient.

Channel 4 reporter Jim Piggott asked how the firehouse got people to donate money.

"It was not that hard, when we talked about tearing the fire station down and building a new one people just did not want to see that happen. So lots of people in the community and the square here all got together and contributed time and money," said Zimmermann Boulos.

One problem remains with Station 13 -- the firehouse doors are not big enough to handle the new engines and special engines have been ordered. The engines are a bit smaller but are able to fit inside the bays.

Fire official said that's a small price to pay to save history.

"We saved at least a million dollars here because we're talking over $2 million to come in and tear it down and rebuild it, and we probably invested about $40,000 of our money and the community's money," Peterson.

What was done at the historic firehouse in San Marco with the community coming together to get something done is an idea that could work in the future in trying to help the city save money.